Honeoye boys basketball looking to go all the way

The Honeoye boys basketball team came up just short of winning the Section 5 Class C3 championship last season, falling to York in the finals, 60-50. Coach Jim Parshall said the Bulldogs didn’t play their best and fatigue may have been a factor.“Unfortunately we probably spent ourselves in those semi...

The Honeoye boys basketball team came up just short of winning the Section 5 Class C3 championship last season, falling to York in the finals, 60-50. Coach Jim Parshall said the Bulldogs didn’t play their best and fatigue may have been a factor.

Despite graduating three of its starters, Honeoye appears to have another team capable of competing for the Finger Lakes West league title, after tying for second last season, and making a run in sectionals.

The Bulldogs’ two returning starters are guard Ben Cratsley and forward Justin Soliday. As juniors, Cratsley averaged 24 points-per-game and Soliday averaged eight points and six rebounds. Both players made the Section 5 All-Tournament team last winter.

Parshall felt Cratsley took a big leap last year. The guard has a strong jump shot and his quickness allows him to attack the basket and make layups from seemingly impossible angles.

“The previous year he was just a sophomore and he still had growing pains and all that,” the coach said. “Last year, he had such a good group around him. Those kids had been playing together for many years, they looked for him and they found him. But, when he felt we needed a basket, he took it upon himself to score it.”

Guards Kyle Boldt and Colin Gotham and big man Luke Blain are the three starters who graduated. Parshall is moving Cratsley from shooting guard to point guard, the “coach on the floor” role Boldt filled last season.

Seniors Allan Smith and Branden Curtis are stepping into the starting lineup this year after coming of the bench as juniors. Parshall said the fifth starter could change from game to game.

Cratsley said he liked playing off the ball last year, but has focused on being more of a ball handler and facilitator during the offseason.

“Soliday is a great finisher at the hole and so is Allan Smith,” the senior said. “Facilitating the ball down low is going to be easy. I have a feeling I’ll see double and triple teams this year, so someone is going to be wide open. I know Branden Curtis was wide open for three in scrimmages.”

Honeoye played well defensively last season and Parshall expects his team to remain tough to score against.

The Bulldogs are experienced with nine seniors on the roster. Soliday said the players have a lot of chemistry with each other.

“We’ve all been playing together for years,” he said. “We can pass the ball pretty well. I think it’ll be interesting to see how we do.”

The loss to York is motivating Honeoye to make a return to the Blue Cross Arena in March.

Page 2 of 2 - “Last year our goal was to get there, this year it’s definitely to win,” Cratsley said. “Getting back there and losing would be heartbreaking in our senior years.”